Bill's Favorite Native Plants

Allen, Sterling & Lothrop's nursery manager Bill Kennie has been working with the Falmouth Open Space committee to help eradicate invasive plants from the Maine landscape. Bill believes that it is very important to include native species in ornamental landscape gardens. Indeed, the more native plants a garden has the better--native plants are typically low maintenance, they provide food and shelter for wildlife and are visually in keeping with our native "wild" landscape.

Watch this video from UMaine Cooperative Extension for more information on dealing with invasive plants:

January:

Cornus Alternifolia "Pagoda Dogwood"    

Height: 15-25'           Spread: 20-25' 

This small speciman tree has many great features.  It has beautiful white star dogwood flowers in May which are followed by dark berries that birds love to eat.
It's winter-bare horizontal branches make it a stand out against the backdrop of a snowy landscape.  It does well in full sun but prefers part shade with well drained soil. 
I frequently transplant these from the woods into the landscape.

February:

Microbiota Decussata " Russian Cypress"

Height: 1'      Spread: 4 - 6'

Not offically a native but it is one of the hardiest and most versatile evergreen.
Russian Cypress is one of my favorite evergreens (as many of you who know me know already!). It has soft cypress-like foliage that turns burgundy red in the winter.  I have planted several of these in my yard.  When they reach matuirty they can reqally fill a space and are good for sloping areas.  I have planted these in full sun & part shade and they have done great!  The only thing they don't like is wet feet; so be sure to plant Russian Cypress in well-drained soil. It is very hardy and wind tolerant.

March:

Disanthus Cercidifolius            “Redbud Hazel”

Height: 6-10’            Spread: 6-10’

This little beauty has blue-green heart shaped leaves that turn red-purple and orange in the fall.  Plant in part to full shade.  A perfect specimen for a Shade Garden!

April: 

Sanguinaria Canadensis                                 “Blood Root”

Perennial:

Height: 8-12”                      Spread: 8-12”

This woodland surprise starts with pearl white flowers that emerge in the spring.  The blooms are followed by large rounded leaves that create an elegant woodland carpet.  We watch for this in our shade garden every May!  It likes rich soil with plenty of moisture.  It is slow to get established but will reward you year after year.

   

 

May: 

Polygonatnum Odoratum:
                     
Variegated Solomon’s Seal                   Height: 20”-30”

Perennial Plant Association selection for 2013’s Perennial of the Year!! 

This plant will enhance your shade garden with a nice pop of color and light! Clean creamy variegation sets off  wonderful nodding white flowers in May and June.  Can be slow to get established, but once it is it naturalizes freely.

 

 

June:

Vinurnum Plicatum:

There are many varieties of this plant, their sizes range from 4’-10’ high.  They all have beautiful clean white flowers that engulf the plant from May into early June.  Most bear fruit for the birds and have stunning foliage in the fall.  I have found these to be drought tolerant and take pruning very well.  Whether used as a specimen or a backdrop to the garden you can’t go wrong with one of these amazing plants! 

 

July:

Sorbaria Sorbifolia                                                                                          

False Spirea

Height: 6-10’-6-10’                  

                                                              

If you want a versatile plant for many uses (i.e. erosion, naturalizing) this is the one for you!  False Spirea is drought tolerant and shade tolerant making it perfect for some tricky spots in your garden.  In June and July it has large white plume flowers that butterflies love.  The fern-like foliage remains full to the base.  Make sure to give it room as it suckers freely.  In the right place this is a great selection!

 

August:

 Senna hebecarpa           Wild Senna

Height: 3-4’

I planted Wild Senna in my field garden along with Veronica, Rudbeckia and Eupatorium.  It rewarded me with bright yellow pea-type flowers from July to September.  It has soft green leaves on sturdy stems and the flowers develop into nice seed pods.  I also noticed that beneficial wasps were really attracted to this plant…not to me!

 

September:

Macleaya                     Plume Poppy                                                                               

Height: 84”-96”

This is one of my all-time favorites! I actually planted this as a backdrop near a picture window to protect my houseplants from the hot summer sun.  It has (pink) huge lobed shaped leaves with beautiful seed pod like flowers that dance in the wind!  This plant is aggressive but will not take over  if you dig up its babies as they come up.  Not an invasive or high maintenance plant, I have many other perennial in this garden and I’ve had no issues with them being choked out by the Plume Poppy.  Also, a great plant for hiding an unsightly area in the yard because of its height and ability to spread.

October:

Aronia Melanocarpa                                                        

Black Chokeberry

Height: 4’-5’       Spread: 4’-5’

This one has interest all season long.  Lovely spring time white and pink flowers are followed by clusters of large edible black fruit (to be enjoyed by you and/or the birds!) in the summer.  The fall foliage is stunning with shades of purple, orange and yellow. 

It is very tolerant of most soil types and if left alone will sucker freely.  It looks nice in both wild and “finished” gardens.

Black Chokeberry is also beneficial for the bees!

 

November:

Comptonia Peregrina                                                                

Sweet Fern

 

Height: 2-4’                         Spread: 4-8’

This one brings me back to my childhood---running through sandy fields in summer with the spicy smell of this plant.  The fern like foliage turns red and yellow in the fall.  It does great in well drained infertile soil.  It will take full sun to part shade. I cut some of this in November and it still had its spicy fragrance.  I’ve had this dried in my house all winter…it really lasts! If you have a tough spot this one could be for you.

 

 

December:

Carya Ovata                                        Shagbark Hickory

Height: 60-80’                                    Spread: 60-70’

If you’re looking for a large stately tree with gorgeous shag bark (hence the name Shagbark Hickory!) then this could be for you.   It has a long straight truck that reaches for the sky.  It is fairly slow to get established but it is very strong once it does. It will also drop nuts that wildlife will enjoy.  Prefers well-drained, loamy soil but is adaptable to other soil types.  This is a tree that you plant for future generations!